Teach us, Lord, to seek your face in those who think they are faceless; your word among those who are voiceless; and your transforming presence among those who feel powerless. Draw us to yourself that we may be active contemplatives in the heart of your world, discovering afresh the presence of Jesus wherever it is disguised and honouring you in the face of the neighbour, the lowly appearance of bread and wine, and the walk of daily service, that we might follow where you lead and respond with warmed hearts and active hands. Amen.

Inspired by Mother Teresa of Calcutta and Karl Rahner

Let us praise God,
who summons us to live as people of hope,
who lifts us when our hearts are weary,
and raises our eyes, restoring our vision,
to see a new heaven, a new earth,
which breaks in where we least expect it;
inviting us, beyond imagining,
to involvement in making real God’s purposes of justice, righteousness and peace.
Let us praise God,
who leads us beyond death, to life in all its fullness,
not for our sakes, but for the sake of others;
that by God’s Spirit we live with courage, compassion and commitment;
so we might be agents of change, sharing the gospel of truth and love,
as we join with God’s work in the world.

God of infinite wonder, whose love has no horizon and whose grace has no border, we open ourselves to your presence this day.
God of the minutiae, in whose company ‘insignificant’ has no meaning, we receive your blessings this day.
Raise our eyes from only that which is in front of us.
Lift our heads, that our vision may be broader and longer.
Sow seeds of passion in our hearts
and lay embers of hope in our lives
that we may never accept the concept of inevitable,
but instead cultivate communities of peace that live a language of possibility.

Loving God, help me feel connected to you so that you may use me where you have placed me. Help me draw close enough that I may see with your eyes, hear with your ears and think with your mind, because you are a just God and justice is a part of loving. Let me support victims who aren’t recognised and people excluded from the accepted circle. Enable me to help people who are suffering because others seek to increase their wealth. Empower me to advocate for children who cannot fulfil their potential or for those whose voices aren’t heard. Bring me out from my comfort zone. Stop me just acting in my own interests. Let me do right! Amen.

Invitational God, we celebrate the times when we know we are in the right place at the right time.
Thank you for your presence, sometimes quiet and sometimes noisy.
Help us to know the difference between doing lots of things to make us feel of value, and fullness of life.
Incarnational God, thank you for standing alongside us when we don’t know where we are meant to be or what we are meant to do.
Help us to discern what is of you, and what is a distraction.
May your kingdom come. Amen.

Dduw cyfiawnder,
agor ein clustiau er mwyn i ni glywed fel yr wyt ti’n clywed,
agor ein calonnau er mwyn i ni ofalu fel yr wyt ti’n gofalu,
agor ein gwefusau er mwyn i siarad fel yr wyt ti’n siarad,
er mwyn i ni gynnig ein lleisiau
ar ran y rhai sydd wedi cael eu distewi,
beth bynnag eu hiaith, gwlad neu gyflwr,
ac felly gwneler dy ewyllys,
megis yn y nef felly ar y ddaear hefyd. Amen.

God of justice,
open our ears to hear as you do,
open our hearts to care as you do,
open our lips to speak as you do,
that we may offer our voices
for those who are silenced,
whatever their language, land or lot,
and so may your will be done,
on earth as in heaven. Amen.

Loving Lord, who made me for your delight,
bless me with good use of the senses you created:
that I may use my sight to see the injustice in your world,
and respond with my heart;
that I may use my hearing to listen to the voice of suffering,
and respond with my heart;
that I may voice what is your will at all times, in all places
and respond with my heart.
Loving Lord, who made me for your delight,
bless me in your service.
Amen.

God of all,
Your dream for your people is that we may be one.
In this time of deep divides and damaging insecurity forgive us for the ways in which we have failed to show solidarity,
and failed to see beyond the identity-based fractures that can obscure the bonds of our common humanity.
Renew our commitment to the work of unity,
drawing hope from the promise of your limitless love which embraces all in true belonging.
We give thanks for the courage and commitment of all those witnessing to unity in the midst of fragmentation,
creating spaces for fellowship and accompaniment,
to sustain us on the journey.
Amen.

Gracious God, we look to you for wisdom, often we look in the wrong places, missing the opportunity to learn of you from others. Your word, as expressed in the Bible, can be difficult to interpret in this divisive world. Show us your way through those we encounter who exude your wisdom in their love for their neighbours, and who emanate your justice from the very depths of their souls. Teach us to engage with the needs of refugees, asylum seekers and immigrants, as all are our neighbours and all are precious people to you. In Jesus’ name we pray and for his sake, Amen.

Among our worries or despair,
you are there.
Among those who are anxious or frail,
you are there.
In the times when we care,
you are there,
and in the times when we fail,
you are there.
In our calling,
open our minds and our hearts to your ways,
so that we may know how to help those in distress.
Enable your Church to be a voice that can be heard,
a people who bring hope to those who feel hopeless,
and to have the courage to face challenges together,
by the power of your Spirit,
Amen.